The photographer is looking for generalized feedback about the aesthetic and technical qualities of their image.
Description
To me this represents the quintessential Redwood forest day. I did a 4-5 hour loop hike, overcast skies, mostly in the rain, and it was a weekday, so I had the forest to myself the entire hike. The sounds of the forest were easily heard, the rain dripping from the canopy and when the rain would stop and the sky brighten a bit the ferns and other undergrowth would become almost incandescent green. A memorable day. I took this image because I liked how nearly every tree had a different color trunk and the textures and patterns on the bark were all different . Also how the bright, delicate undergrowth contrasted with the muted tones of the giant trees.
Specific Feedback
Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Technical Details
Canon 5D Mark II, 24-105 mm @ 55mm, 13 seconds, f/16, ISO 100
Scott: I so envy you the experience. I’ve been to the Redwoods twice in the past 3 years and was awestruck each time. I was there both times in the off season and the quiet and majesty of the place is wonderful. I think your image brings that out nicely. Makes me want to go back.>=))>
Hi Scott! I will echo Bill’s comments. @John_Williams and I spent 2 days in the Redwoods about 5 weeks ago o our way to Yosemte. Like your experience, it felt like we had the place to ourselves. The quiet and majesty of the place (to quote Bill) is amazing. I agree that your image reflects that experience very well.
From someone who has not spent as much time as any of you above in the Redwoods - despite being a California resident almost my entire life!.. but I can say I think you’ve done an excellent job capturing the essence of the Redwoods. The towering sentinels for sure, but also both the canopy and undergrowth. This is beautifully balanced and with favorable, diffused light.
The only tech suggestion I have would be the brightness of the center tree. Of course I wasn’t there, and as noted one of the inspiring aspects you mention is the diversity of color and tone of all the trees deep in these woods. So the brightness of that middle trunk is of course subjective - and a minor point at that.
This does look very much like a redwood forest. The only criticism I have is that the underbrush colors are so lush that they draw attention away from the trees (which presumably are the main subject). This is a common thing with redwood forest images actually.
Thank you for your comment Igor. My intent wasn’t for the trees to be the main focus, I was trying to evoke the feeling of the forest and the undergrowth with the vibrant color is very much an equal part of that to me.
I did a repost with the middle tree darkened a little bit, I’m on the fence, I’d be curious to hear your thoughts and others. Did I darken I enough? I have been going back and forth about it, I kind of like it bright just because it was different from the other trees, but also see not making it stand out as a distraction.
Scott, thanks for considering the feedback and taking the time. I don’t know what your post processing involves, but if your adjustment is on an individual layer in PS, then something I do all the time - simply reduce the opacity of that layer.
I can see you’re point and original vision, so perhaps even 50% opacity on your adjustment might not seem so much.
Scott, the repost helps well at balancing the viewing. I really like the mix of vertical trunks and their lovely green surroundings. I think this speaks well of the redwood forests, with their very tall straight trees and the lush undergrowth. The mix of vertical against green is quite striking.
This is a lovely mix of the majestic trees and the colorful undergrowth that one finds in the redwoods. As @Steve_Kennedy noted, we were recently there for a few days, and I found it incredibly frustrating how hard it was to capture how huge they are. I like that there are some “tiny” trees mixed in, because they help to contrast with the big guys.
